Image display system

Abstract

An image display system is capable of controlling an image displayed by a projector using a single image signal cable connected to a personal computer. Control information is combined as images with image information that is transmitted from the personal computer through the image signal cable to the projector. The control information combined with the image information is represented by changing shapes, brightness levels, and displayed positions in a predetermined area of the displayed image. The projector's CPU reads the changing shapes, brightness levels, and displayed positions from an image memory in the projector, and instructs an image output unit to control the displayed image depending on the read data. A display unit of the projector projects the controlled image onto a projection surface.

1 . An image display system comprising: 
 an image display apparatus for projecting an image onto a projection surface; and    an image output apparatus for generating an image to be projected and outputting the image as image information to said image display apparatus;    said image output apparatus comprising: 
 an image controller for combining control information for controlling the projected image with said image information output to said image display apparatus, as part of said image information, and outputting the control information combined with the image information; and  
   said image display apparatus having an image adjustment device; and    said image adjustment device comprising: 
 an image memory for storing the image information output from said image output apparatus;  
 a data determining unit for reading and determining said control information for controlling the projected image from the image information stored in said image memory; and  
 an image output unit for controlling the projected image to be output according to the control information determined by said data determining unit.  
   
   
   
       2 . An image display system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data determining unit comprises a microprocessor.  
   
   
       3 . An image display system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control information for controlling the projected image, which is combined with said image information, represents a button displayed in a predetermined position, in the projected image, to specify a feature that is to be controlled in a control range, that feature being at least one of the following: a shape, a size, a brightness level, and a displayed position of said button.  
   
   
       4 . An image display system according to  claim 3 , wherein said control information represents a plurality of buttons displayed in the predetermined position in the projected image for specifying a plurality of elements to be controlled.  
   
   
       5 . An image display system according to  claim 3 , wherein said elements to be controlled include at least one of brightness level, hue, sound level, trapezoidal distortion correction, and control menu of the projected image.  
   
   
       6 . An image display system according to  claim 3 , wherein said image display apparatus comprises a projector.  
   
   
       7 . An image display system according to  claim 3 , wherein said image output apparatus comprises a personal computer.  
   
   
       8 . An image display system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control information for controlling the projected image, which is combined with said image information, comprises binary information displayed as a pixel array in a predetermined position in the projected image, and said binary information is input by a button displayed on a display monitor of said image output apparatus to specify a feature that is to be controlled in a control range, that feature being at least one of a shape, a size, a brightness level, and a displayed position of the button, said binary information being combined as part of said image information depending on the element to be controlled.  
   
   
       9 . An image display system according to  claim 8 , wherein said binary information is input by a plurality of buttons displayed in the predetermined position in the projected image for specifying a plurality of elements to be controlled.  
   
   
       10 . An image display system according to  claim 8 , wherein said elements to be controlled include at least one of brightness level, hue, sound level, trapezoidal distortion correction, and control menu of the projected image.  
   
   
       11 . An image display system according to  claim 8 , wherein said image display apparatus comprises a projector.  
   
   
       12 . An image display system according to  claim 8 , wherein said image output apparatus comprises a personal computer.  
   
   
       13 . An image display system comprising: 
 an image display apparatus for receiving image data comprising control information and image information and projecting an image onto a projection surface, said image display apparatus including an image adjustment device comprising: 
 an image memory for storing said image data;  
 a data determining unit for reading and determining said control information from said image data; and  
 an image output unit for controlling said image based on said control information determined by said data determining unit.  
   
   
   
       14 . An image display system according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an image output apparatus for generating said image and outputting said image as image information, said image output apparatus comprising: 
 an image controller for combining said image information with control information for controlling a projection of said image, and outputting said control information combined with said image information to said image display apparatus.  
   
   
   
       15 . An image display system according to  claim 14 , wherein said combined control information and image information are output to said image display apparatus via a single cable.  
   
   
       16 . An image display system according to  claim 14 , wherein said control information comprises a brightness level that is present in a given area of said image.  
   
   
       17 . An image display system according to  claim 16 , wherein said data determining unit reads said brightness level and controls said image information based on said brightness level.  
   
   
       18 . An image adjustment device for an image display apparatus which receives image data comprising control information and image information and projects an image onto a projection surface, said image adjustment device comprising: 
 an image memory for storing said image data;    a data determining unit for reading and determining said control information from said image data; and    an image output unit for controlling said image based on said control information determined by said data determining unit.    
   
   
       19 . An image adjustment device of according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 an image input unit coupled to said image memory, for receiving said image data from an image output apparatus.    
   
   
       20 . An image adjustment device of according to  claim 18 , wherein said image output unit is coupled to a display unit of a projection device of said image display apparatus.